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Join the Austin Public Library on Tuesday, May 12 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. for a follow-up discussion of the award winning PBS American Experience series “We Shall Remain”. As the final episode of “We Shall Remain” concludes, Dr. Loriene Roy, past president of the American Library Association and an advisor for the series, returns for a follow up discussion that allows viewers the opportunity to connect and share the histories and contemporary life-ways of tribal peoples across the nation. “We Shall Remain” is a provocative multi-media project that establishes Native History as an essential part of American history. The discussion is free and open to the public. For more information please call 512-892-6680 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Guns, knives, drugs…what could I be blogging about on a PBS station in regards to these three things? The options are pretty narrow, but the answer is Independent Lens’ Made In America, a documentary airing on KLRU on May 12 about gangs in Los Angeles.

Like most people, I couldn’t say I knew much about the origins of the Bloods or the Crips, but Independent Lens certainly gave me a ton of insight. African Americans were not allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts in Los Angeles, so they created their own social groups, based on geographic locations, they even had their own hand signs. LA was highly segregated geographically; a black person dare not cross a street into a white community or risk being questioned and beat by the police. As time progressed, the Community got fed up with the racism; they rioted, hence the Watts riot lasting for five days in 1965. Following the riots, there were increased pledges to fix the poverty and issues in Los Angeles, but nobody followed through. With conditions stagnant, family life in these communities was poor; the young came together once again in their geographically isolated groups, but this time, revolving around crime, territory and drugs.more →

KLRU presents a special advance screening of Independent Lens’ Ask Not on Tuesday, May 19, in KLRU’s Austin City Limits Studio. The screening begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a short discussion. RSVP here

ASK NOT explores the tangled political battles that led to the infamous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and reveals the personal stories of gay Americans who serve in combat under a veil of secrecy.

Independent Lens’ Ask Not will air on Tuesday, June 16, at 9 p.m. on KLRU.

Austin writer Bud Shrake passed away early today. Shrake taped an episode of Texas Monthly Talks in January 2008 during which time host Evan Smith said “If the assemblage of undeniably talented outlaws, renegades, malcontents, and misfits who emerged from the iron triangle of Paschal High School, Texas Christian University, and the Metroplex newspaper business amounts to a Fort Worth mafia, this week’s guest is surely the don: the most talented outlaw, renegade, malcontent, and misfit of the bunch — the one with the longest life in the world of writing at various levels and in various media, and the one whose work, more than that of any other, continues to surprise and delight.” Read more of Smith’s comments on Shrake here or watch the complete interview:

Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday follows the female loggerhead turtle as she makes the long journey from Mexico to Japan to lay eggs in the place she was born.

Masterpiece Mystery! at 8 p.m. Sunday presents the three part series of “Wallander,” which tracks the scruffy Swedish Inspector Kurt Wallander as he goes after the growing crime affecting contemporary Sweden.

The Big Squeeze is a joyful leap into the heart of Texas music. And where there’s music there’s usually some grilling going on. That’s why Herminio Ramirez builds a stage right in the tiny kitchen of their Houston home for his son John. From the urban barrios of Houston to the colonials along the U.S.-Mexican border, legacies fueled by the passion-stirring combination of family, friends and food, is being passed along. In The Big Squeeze, we follow 16 year old John Ramirez and other young musicians as they do battle at the statewide accordion throw down.

KLRU is taking proactive steps to strengthen operations in light of budget shortfalls and tough economic times by making staff reductions and other cost saving measures.

KLRU remains fully committed to our vision – that the PBS programs we are privileged to present can play an important role in building a stronger, more engaged and informed Austin community.

Beginning next week KLRU will cease broadcasting between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Although we will be signing off overnight, we are still increasing total broadcasting hours with the addition of a new channel – 18-3 – later this summer.

We are also moving forward with our efforts to make more content available on the Web, allowing viewers to access KLRU content anywhere and at anytime at klru.tv.

We are suspending production of Docubloggers, KLRU’s weekly community journalism series and revising the scope of In Context to focus instead on a series of specials featuring local arts organizations. The next special will air May 14th at 8 p.m. featuring Ballet Austin’s Hamlet.

Public broadcasting and KLRU are more important and relevant than ever before for its unbiased programming. The need for trusted, reliable information during periods of rapid change is vital. For more than 4 decades, KLRU has provided our viewers with a way to come together to honestly address community concerns and opportunities. That is why public broadcasting is a fundamental part of our community, and will continue to be well into the future. Help us continue to fulfill our mission by showing your financial support or by placing a comment below.

Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday travels to the Scottish island of Mull to look at its golden and white-tailed eagles that have strongholds on the island.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday presents Dickens’ “The Old Curiosity Shop,” that follows Nell Trent and her shop-owner grandfather as they suffer tragic misfortunes that ultimately leads to the loss of their beloved shop.

We Shall Remain at 8 p.m. Monday reveals the life of Chiricahua Apache medicine man Geronimo, one of the few who resisted acceptance of the white man’s civilization until the end.

In its final episode of the series, Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People at 9:30 p.m. Monday looks at the future for the mountain’s ecosystem and what is being done to protect it.

Nova at 7 p.m. Tuesday gives a definitive look at how pioneers deciphered the intricate system of hieroglyphs developed by the Mayans.

Frontline at 8 p.m. Tuesday presents a unique hidden camera look at the world of sexual slavery, talking with traffickers and victims, and exposing the government indifference that allows this to continue virtually unchecked.

Sixty years after the horrors of WWII, surviving Kamikaze pilots reveal how they were forced to pay for an empire’s pride with their lives in Independent Lens at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Through interviews and rare footage, Most Honorable Son at 10 p.m. Tuesday recounts the journey of Ben Kuroki, the first Japanese-American war hero, through his time in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII.

Secrets of the Dead at 7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 p.m. Friday examines the dramatic dogfight between an American and a Japanese fighter pilot in the summer of 1942, and how they both survived despite serious injuries.

In its first episode, WW II Behind Closed Doors at 8 p.m. Wednesday gives a history of Stalin that he kept secret: his offer to help Hitler before he became allied with Churchill and Roosevelt.

Named as “one of the genuine lights in rock music” by Billboard, Alejandro Escovedo performs songs from “The Boxing Mirror,” in Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday and 11 p.m. Friday.

Student Docubloggers abound on Docubloggers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Luling High School students share a story of immigration in their town, and Texas State students cover different sides of the Cesar Chavez march in San Antonio.

One of the most influential and inspirational artists of the modern era, Ani DiFranco, performs songs from her most recent album “Red Letter Year” in Philadelphia in Live from the Artists Den at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Acclaimed tunesmiths Lyle Lovett and his friends John Hiatt, Guy Clark and Joe Ely pool their talents in this songwriters special episode of Austin City Limits at 7 p.m. Saturday.